Electronic Cigarette Cleaning and Charging Station

ABSTRACT

The invention is an efficient mechanism that both cleans the components of an electronic cigarette as well as provides for charging of the battery of the electronic cigarette. The preferred embodiment of the invention uses steam to sterilize all non-electrical components mean while recharging stations recharge the battery portion of the electronic cigarettes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to electronic or e-cigarettes and more particularly to their maintenance.

The need for improved maintenance of e-cigarettes is becoming only more pronounce with the rising popularity of e-cigarettes. Without an efficient and easy to use method for cleaning the mechanism, the potential for malfunction of the apparatus as well as the spread of disease becomes even more pronounce.

Cleaning of the e-cigarette has been largely ignored by the manufacturers in their haste to meet the ever increasing market demand for the apparatus. The oils, flavors, nicotine and cannabinoids all have the potential to form breeding grounds for diseases which are then drawn directly into the user's lungs for ready infection of the user.

It is clear there is a clear need for an efficient cleaning mechanism for e-cigarettes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides for an efficient mechanism that both cleans the components of the e-cigarette and provides for charging of the battery of the e-cigarette.

E-Cigarettes are well known in the art and include such mechanisms as, but limited to, those described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,528,569, entitled “Electronic Cigarette with Liquid Reservoir” issued on Sep. 10, 2013, to Newton; U.S. Pat. No. 8,689,805, entitled “Electronic Cigarette” issued Apr. 8, 2014, to Hon; and, U.S. Pat. No. 8,393,331, entitled “Electronic Atomization Cigarette” issued Mar. 12, 2013, to Hon; all of which are incorporated hereinto by reference.

The preferred embodiment of the invention uses steam to sterilize all non-electrical components of electronic cigarettes. While steam is the preferred cleaning technique, those of ordinary skill in the art readily recognize that other techniques may be employed in this capacity, including, but not limited to those found in: U.S. Pat. No. 5,671,758, entitled “Catalytic Cigarette Smoke Cleaning Device and Process” issued Sep. 30, 1997, to Rongved; and, U.S. Pat. No. 8,689,804, entitled “Article Including Identification Information for Use in an Electrically Heated Smoking System” issued Apr. 8, 2014, to Fernando, et al.; both of which are incorporated hereinto by reference.

Sterilization of non-electrical components is provided using a steaming compartment. Once preferably distilled water is supplied to the water reservoir. The non-electrical components are placed in a steaming rack within the steaming compartment, the steaming compartment is sealed with a latching system. The control panel allows the user to specify the time for the cleaning process and steam is injected into the steaming compartment to clean the non-electrical components.

In the preferred embodiment, steam is generated by heating the water reservoir around the base with a secured metal heating element that heats the reservoir to steaming temperatures in the device. When the reservoir reaches steaming temperatures heat turns the water into steam. The steam is forced upward from reservoir through to the steaming compartment allowing steam to flood the steaming compartment, thus cleaning and sterilizing all contents for the specified time. Excess steam is released out of a vent located towards the top of the steaming compartment. Excess water and waste is gathered at the bottom of the steaming compartment which is tapered down where steam directs the excess fluid into another reservoir in the rear or side of the preferred embodiment known as the drain bin.

In the preferred embodiment, a control panel provides the status of the cycle selected. Ideally, the cleaning process is curtailed at a point to allow the now clean components to “cool” before a user has access to them. The completion of the process is indicated by the control panel located on the front side of the device.

Ideally, the now-clean components are removed using the steam rack and placed in the open air to dry.

A further enhancement to the invention is the incorporation of multiple recharging stations for the electronic battery portion of the electronic cigarette. Those of ordinary skill in the art readily recognize a variety of recharging ports including, but not limited to that described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,546,730, entitled “Electric Cigar Lighter, universal Power Socket and Accessory Plug” issued Oct. 1, 2013, to Schwarzbach et al., incorporated hereinto by reference.

In the preferred embodiment, the invention is designed to clean and charge multiple electronic cigarettes simultaneously. Each charging port has a removable rubber cap for protection when not in use. Each port is also provided with a set of LED indicators indicating the completion or status of a charge for the associated port. For safety purposes, in the preferred embodiment, the internal circuit board is separated both by distance and seals from all liquid areas. Further, the circuit board allows for multiple safety features to be included such as master timing of steam cycles and temperature regulating safety cut off. The circuit board runs off of a timer that indicates start and end times showing the process of the cleaning cycle the user has selected specified through the control panel. The temperature is regulated safely and defaults into a safe mode where all power is cut off if failure to regulate temperature is detected.

The invention, together with various embodiments thereof will be more fully explained by the accompanying drawings and the following description thereof.

Drawing in Brief:

FIG. 1 is an internal side view of the preferred embodiment of the invention.

Drawing in Detail:

FIG. 1 is an internal side view of the preferred embodiment of the invention. The preferred embodiment of the Electronic Cigarette Cleaning and Charging Station 17 is powered by standard electrical connection 11. Power via standard electrical connection 11 is used to power charging port 9. This power is also used for circuit board 10, control panel 14 and heating element 8. The control panel 14 allows the user to specify the time for the cleaning process. Control panel 14 also indicates progress of cycle selected, which corresponds with circuit board 10. In the preferred embodiment there will be one or more charging port 9 to permit the charging of the electronic cigarette batteries. Slippage of the Electronic Cigarette Cleaning and Charging Station 17 is prevented by rubber footings 15. Water, preferably distilled, is introduced through the fill tube 4 into water reservoir 5 through the steam chamber 3.

The water from water reservoir 5 is heated by heating element 8 to provide steam into the steaming compartment 3. Steaming compartment 3 is sealed using lid 1 and is then clasped into a locked position using latch 2. Lid 1, once latched in place, assures that the steam cleans all of the components therein. Excess steam pressure is vented towards the top through vent 16 and excess fluid from steaming compartment 3 is directed through drain funnel 6 into waste bin 7. Steam rack 12 is used to hold the items to be cleaned within steaming compartment 3. Once the cleaning process is completed, the steam rack 12 is removed and placed over drying compartment 13 for final drying. The waste fluid from steaming compartment 3 that is directed through drain funnel 6 is collected by the removable waste bin 7 and is discharged by the operator after each cleaning cycle.

It is clear that the present invention provides for a highly improved electronic cigarette cleaning and charging station.

Drawing Numbering Key: FIG. 1 Internal Side View of Electronic Cigarette Cleaning and Charging Station

1. Lid

2. Latch

3. Steaming Compartment

4. Fill Tube

5. Water Reservoir

6. Drain Funnel

7. Waste Bin

8. Heating Element

9. Charging Port

10. Circuit Board

11. Standard Electrical Connection

12. Steam Rack

13. Drying Compartment

14. Control Panel

15. Rubber Footings

16. Vent

17. Electronic Cigarette Cleaning and Charging Station 

What is claimed is:
 1. The invention is an efficient mechanism that both cleans the components of an e-cigarette as well as provides for charging of the battery of the e-cigarette: The preferred embodiment of the invention uses steam to sterilize all non-electric components while the recharging station(s) for the battery portion of the e-cigarette are also provided. 